- GRIPS - Arrival Guide National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

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1 - GRIPS - Arrival Guide 2012 National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

2 Welcome to GRIPS We are very pleased to welcome you to the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). You are one of the many new students from around the world who will become a member of the GRIPS community, and we hope that your studies in Japan will be both enjoyable and enriching. We have prepared this guide to provide you with information useful in preparing for your trip to Japan. Please review it in detail. Do not forget to bring it with you to Japan, as it covers contact details, as well as information on transit from Narita Airport to GRIPS International House (GRIPS IH), the residence halls of the Tokyo International Exchange Center (TIEC),, and Misato Housing Complex (Misato). A. Pre-Departure Preparation What to Bring The following is a checklist of documents and other essentials you should bring to Japan. Passport with proper visa Flight ticket(s) Certificate of Eligibility Certificate of Acceptance Passport size photos This guide Cash Contact details card Please submit used ticket(s) and boarding passes to the GRIPS staff (except IMF students) on your first visit to school. Immigration may ask to see your COE upon your arrival (not applicable to those on a MEXT or YLP scholarship) Immigration may also ask to see this These may come in handy when applying for various certificates, membership cards, etc., when you first arrive. You should bring at least 100,000 Japanese yen (approx. US$ 1, 250for immediate expenses (taxi, hotel, initial living expenses, etc.). Enclosed with this guide (GRIPS Student Office, GRIPS IH, TIEC and Misato) If you require a particular type of medication, you should bring an adequate supply with you, as Medication it may be unavailable in Japan. Also, remember to bring the prescription and packaging that shows the generic (rather than the brand) name, as it will make getting replacements easier. Note 1: If you plan to bring any electrical appliances, please note that Japan uses 100V current. Note 2: Students staying at the TIEC can apply for the rental linen service.(sheets, pillow, blanket, etc). Beddings/linens can be prepared upon request at GRIPS IH and Misato for approx. 10,000 yen. Clothes Although Tokyo enjoys a relatively mild winter compared to some other regions of Japan, you will need warm coats and sweaters to survive the chill. As summer is hot and humid, you should bring light clothes, thin shirts, and long sleeves if you need to cover up from the sun. GRIPS does not have a dress code, and welcomes the variety of appearance resulting from a diverse range of individual backgrounds, styles, and tastes. However, you are advised to bring at least one formal suit or dress for special occasions such as ceremonies, receptions, meetings, and other occasions that may require formal dress. For more information about the weather in Tokyo, please see: Share Your Culture One of the greatest joys of studying at GRIPS is the diversity of the international community. Your fellow students will come from many different countries and cultures, making it a good opportunity to share, celebrate, and understand the value of cultural diversity. Film is an excellent medium for learning about one another s culture. Hence, you are encouraged to bring movies or documentaries (DVDs, videos, etc., in English or with English subtitles) from your country to be shown at the GRIPS International Cinema. You are also most welcome to bring your home country s national/traditional dress/costume, as well as anecdotes, songs, poems, and other products of your cultural heritage. National Health Insurance All international students must enroll in the Japanese National Health Insurance (NHI) system (kokumin kenko hoken). NHI provides you with a specified level of hospital/medical coverage, a rebate on fees for doctor/specialist consultations, ambulance transportation, dental care, and other pharmaceutical benefits. Further details will be explained upon arrival and GRIPS staff will help you with enrolment procedures. Rescuer s Insurance All international students (excluding EPP program) must sign up for Rescuer s Insurance. It costs approx. 6,800 yen. This insurance covers death due to injury and illness, as well as expenses incurred through unexpected accidents or illnesses; - 1 -

3 medical treatment for injuries to other people; compensation for property damage; and rescuer s expenses in case of student death. For further information, please see Outline of Personal Accident Insurance Living Expenses in Tokyo Naturally, expenditures will differ from person to person, so the following is conservative estimates of monthly living expenses for a single person in Tokyo (GRIPS IH & TIEC). What How Much (yen/per month) Accommodations/rent 50,000 Utilities 10,000 Food 40,000 Transportation 9,000 Insurance (health, accident, property) 2,000 Books and study materials 5,000 Telephone 5,000 Leisure & hobbies 10,000 Miscellaneous 10,000 Total 141,000 Laptop Loan Program GRIPS provides laptop computers to all students in the Master s programs. Laptops are school property and are lent to students at no cost for the duration of their studies at GRIPS. Laptops may be used both on- and off-campus. Academic Preparation If you have some time to spare during the summer, it may be a good idea to start preparing for your studies at GRIPS. For information about the curriculum, please refer to the information enclosed. More detailed information about individual courses, reading materials, etc., can be found in the online syllabus at the GRIPS website: Accompanying Family Members If you have been allocated a Couple or Family Room at GRIPS IH, TIEC or Misato with your family, you are advised to make inquiries to the Japanese Embassy in your country regarding documents that they require from you, in order to submit visa applications for family members. We strongly recommend that you first come to Japan alone, and have your family join you later. Do not attempt to bring your family on a tourist visa, as you will not be able to change their visa status once they are in Japan (your family will not be able to stay longer than 3 months). In most cases, your family will need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility in Japan, for which you may need to bring your marriage certificate (for spouse) and/or birth certificates (for children), as well as copies of your accompanying family members passports. Please note that all documents in foreign languages must be translated into Japanese. Only officially authorized translations are accepted, and must be submitted along with a copy of the documents in their original language (students from China also need an authorized copy of the original document). The Japanese Embassy in your country can likely translate and/or authorize translations, but it is advisable to seek further advice from them on this matter. If you do not bring authorized Japanese translations of required documents, it may slow down the visa application process considerably. The GRIPS Student Office can help you further with inviting family members, but only after your arrival in Japan. Students that show up unannounced with their families in tow will not receive any support from GRIPS with regard to accommodations, visa applications, and so on. Please also note that students who stay in the TIEC and GRIPS IH cannot change nor vacate their rooms during the academic year (e.g., from Couple to Single, or vice versa). For further information regarding accompanying family and accommodations, please refer to the Pre-Arrival FAQs at the GRIPS website: B. Arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport Immigration/ Baggage Claim/ Customs Inspection After disembarking from the airplane, you will proceed to Immigration. Please have your passport and disembarkation card ready for inspection. The immigration provides you Residence Card as your identification. Upon passing Immigration, proceed to the Baggage Claim area to collect your luggage, and then through Customs Inspection. Please note that importation of fresh (unpacked) food into Japan is strictly prohibited to bring in. Airport Greeting Service A meet & greet service will be provided for students arriving on the dates specified by GRIPS (October 1&2 for most students, but the arrival date may vary by program) at Narita and Haneda Airports. Please attach the enclosed GRIPS sticker to your clothes, so that our staff can recognize you. Please follow their instructions on how to get from the airport to your residence or hotel

4 Our staff can also advise you on hotel accommodations in the Narita area, in case you need to stay overnight due to a delayed arrival or other unforeseen circumstances. If you have friends or family in Japan that will meet you at the airport and accompany to your residence, please inform us in advance that you will not require pick-up service. In the event that you fail to meet our staff at the airport, please inform us of your arrival by phone immediately. GRIPS contact numbers are also listed on the card attached to this Arrival Guide. Please make sure to keep this card on hand upon arrival in Japan. How to make a call: Purchase a telephone card worth 500 or 1,000 yen from a phone card vending machine or kiosk at one of the airport arrival lobbies. Grey-colored pay phones should be easy to find in the arrival lobbies. Contact number: (on arrival days only) If any other situation To whom students move into a private apartment and expect to arrive except on the 1 st and 2 nd of October, please contact separately your program coordinator in advance to discuss further plan. 1) GRIPS International House (Nakano, Tokyo) A simple, cheaper way and the one we recommend -- is to use the Airport Limousine bus to the KEIO PLAZA Hotel Tokyo (Shinjyuku), then take a taxi from there. The bus fare is 3,000 yen; taxis will cost approximately 1,500~2,000 yen. Address: GRIPS International House, , Nogata, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Tel: or Cell phone: Mr. Takanashi and Mr. Hoshino: manager Airport Limousine URL: 2) The Tokyo International Exchange Center (Odaiba, Tokyo) For maps and access information, please also check the TIEC website: Option 1: Airport Limousine to Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel A relatively cheaper way and the one we recommend -- is to use the Airport Limousine bus to the nearby Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel (Odaiba), then take a taxi from there. The Airport Limousine bus service runs between Narita Airport and Takeshiba/Rinkai Fukutoshin (Odaiba/Ariake/Tokyo Big Sight) seven times daily. Purchase a ticket (2,700 yen) at the Airport Limousine counter in the airport arrival lobby. Bus stops are located just outside the arrival lobbies. The clerks staffing the Airport Limousine counter are friendly and helpful; they should be able to help you with requests/queries. Get off at Grand Pacific Le Daiba Hotel. It is located approximately 1 kilometer from the TIEC Residence Halls, making it only a short, cheap taxi ride (710 yen). The Tokyo International Exchange Center Residence Halls address is displayed in Japanese in the enclosed contact details card; simply show this card to the taxi driver. For further information regarding the Airport Limousine, please check the following website: Option 2: Train from Narita Airport to Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station If your flight comes in after 6 pm, you can take one of the several trains going downtown from the airport. The easiest way is to take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo Station (60 mins; approx.3000 yen); transfer to the Yamanote Line; then get off at Shimbashi Station (2 nd stop). At Shimbashi, follow the signs for the Yurikamome Line. Board any train there and get off at Fune no Kagakukan Station (16 mins; 370 yen). The TIEC buildings are right next to the station. For train timetables, please check the following website: (3) Misato Housing Complex (Saitama prefecture) Again, the only one we recommend -- is to use the Airport Limousine bus to Shin Koshigaya (Saitama-ken), where the GRIPS staff will meet then transport you to Misato. Phone: Manager: Mr. Atari Airport Limousine URL: *If you encounter any problems upon arrival, please contact us at GRIPS. GRIPS contact numbers are also listed on the card attached to this Arrival Guide. Please make sure to keep this card on hand when you come. Used Flight Ticket Please make sure to keep any used flight tickets and boarding passes, as you will need to submit them to GRIPS. Bring it with you on your first day at GRIPS for the Orientation Program. Money Exchange You can easily change all the major currencies into Japanese yen at Narita Airport. Please note that the first scholarship allowance will not be paid until around the end of October. If possible, try to bring at least 150,000 yen (about 1,850USD) to cover transportation fees and immediate expenses

5 Baggage Delivery Service For those with lots of baggage, it may be a good idea to have it sent to your new home address through one of the many baggage delivery services (e.g., ABC, GPA, ANA, and QL). Delivery service counters are located on the arrival floors in both Terminals 1 and 2. The charge is around 2,000 yen per suitcase, but may vary depending on size and weight. Your baggage will be delivered within 24 hours. Address and contact info: 1) GRIPS International House (GRIPS IH) Managers: Mr.Takanashi and Mr. Hoshino , Nogata, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Tel: or Cell phone: ) Tokyo International Exchange Center (TIEC) 2-2 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo Phone: Fax: tiec@jasso.go.jp 3) The Misato Housing Complex Manager: Mr. Atari Hikonari 3-chome, , Misato-shi, Saitama-ken, Phone: n-atari@grips.ac.jp C. Your Schedule Following Arrival in Japan Your first couple of days in Japan will be occupied with an Orientation Program at GRIPS and various administrative arrangements (foreign resident registration, national health insurance, rescuer s insurance, commuter railway pass, opening a bank account, etc.). Further details and instructions will be provided upon arrival. Further reading We hope that this guide is useful to you. If you would like to read more about living and studying in Japan, we have prepared several guidebooks that can be downloaded from the Living in Japan page at our website: Please feel free to contact us should you require further information. We wish you the best of luck with your preparations, and look forward to meeting you soon at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo , Japan Tel: (international); (domestic) Fax: (international); (domestic) studentoffice@grips.ac.jp - 4 -

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